house

1[countable]a building for people to live in, usually for one familyHe went into the house.a two-bedroom houseLet's have the party at my house.house pricesWhat time do you leave the house in the morning (= to go to work)?We went on a tour of the house and grounds (= for example, at a country house, open to the public).see alsopenthouse,safe houseTopic CollocationsDecorating and Home Improvementhousesrefurbish/renovate a building/a houseconvert a building/house/room into homes/offices/ apartments/condominiums/condosextend/enlarge a house/building/room/kitchenbuild an addition (on/to something)/a sunroom/a deckknock down/demolish a house/home/building/wallknock out/down the wall separating two roomsdecoratingfurnish/paint/repaint a home/house/apartment/roombe decorated in bright colors/in a traditional style/with flowers/with paintingspaint/plaster the walls/ceilinghang/put up/strip off/remove (the) wallpaperinstall/replace/remove the bathroom fixturesbuild/put up shelveslay wooden flooring/timber decking/floor tiles/a carpet/a patio floorput up/hang/take down a picture/painting/poster/curtainhome improvementdo carpentry/the plumbing/the wiring (yourself)make home improvementsadd/install central heating/underfloor heating/insulationinstall double-glazing/a smoke alarminsulate your house/your home/the walls/the pipes/the tanks/the atticfix/repair a roof/a leak/a pipe/the plumbing/a leaking faucetblock/clog (up)/unblock/unclog a pipe/sink/drainmake/drill/fill a holehammer (in)/pull out/remove a nailtighten/loosen/remove a screwsaw/cut/treat/stain/varnish/paint wood

2[singular]all the people living in a housesynonymhouseholdBe quiet or you'll wake the whole house!

4[countable](in compounds)a company involved in a particular kind of business; an institution of a particular kinda fashion/banking/publishing, etc. housea religious house (= a convent or a monastery )I work in house(= in the offices of the company that I work for, not at home)see alsoclearing house,in-house

restaurant

5[countable](in compounds)a restauranta steakhousea coffee housea bottle of house wine(= the cheapest wine available in a particular restaurant, sometimes not listed by name)see alsoroadhouse

parliament

6[countable]Housea group of people who meet to discuss and make the laws of a countryLegislation requires approval by both houses of Congress.see alsolower house,upper house

7the House[singular]the House of Representatives

in theater

8[countable]the part of a theater where the audience sits; the audience at a particular performanceplaying to a full/packed/empty house(= to a large/small audience)The spotlight faded and the house lights came up.see alsofull house

family

9[countable]the House of…an old and famous familythe House of Windsor (= the British royal family)

Topic CollocationsHouses and Apartmentsrentinglive in a rental propertyrent/share/move into a furnished house/an apartmentrent a studio/a studio apartmentfind/get a housemate/a roommatesign/break/default on a lease/rental agreement/contractextend/renew/terminate the leaseafford/pay the rent/the bills/the utilitiesfall behind on the rentpay/lose/return a security/key depositgive/receive a month's/two-weeks' notice to leave/vacate the propertybeing a landlordhave an apartment/a room/a house for rentrent (out)/lease (out)/sublet an apartment/a house/a propertycollect/increase/raise the rentevict the existing tenantsattract/find new/prospective tenantsinvest in rental propertybuyingbuy/acquire/purchase a house/(a) property/(a piece of) prime real estatecall/contact/use a real estate agent/brokerput in/make an offer on a housemake/save for a down payment on a house/homeapply for/be approved for/take out a mortgage/home loan(struggle to) pay the mortgagemake/meet/keep up/cover the monthly mortgage paymentsforeclose on somebody's home/housesellingput your house/property on the market/up for sale/up for auctionincrease/lower your price/the asking pricehave/hold/hand over the deed to the house, land, etc.Idioms